Japanese Title: Dragon Battle! Satoshi VS Iris!!
Original Airdate: May 7, 2021
US Airdate: January 21, 2022
Ash learns that his old friend Iris is participating in the World Coronation Series. He and Goh travel to Unova so Ash can accept her challenge to battle.
- Bait-and-Switch: You'd assume the Axew found outside the Opelucid Gym is Iris's, right? Nope, it's Drayden's.
- The Bus Came Back: Iris and Drayden make in-person appearances for the first time since the end of the Unova arc. Iris' Dragonite and Emolga also appear, and her Axew has evolved into a Haxorus since the last time he appeared.
- Call-Back: Goh mistakes Iris for a Pokémon and tries to catch her, just like Ash did when he first met her.
- Continuity Nod: Iris was the Champion of Unova in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. Also, Goh encounters her after throwing a Pokeball at her when he mistook her for a Pokémon, not unlike how she first met Ash.
- Continuity Snarl: Dragonite was able to shrug off Ice-type attacks like they were nothing in Unova but is knocked out by an Ice Fang. Justified as Dracovish's Ability is Strong Jaw which powers up all biting moves and Dragonite was stuck in Dracovish's mouth.
- Cuteness Proximity: Iris naturally reacts positively to not only Ash's Dragonite, but also to Dracovish.
- Determinator: Ash's Dragonite's tendency to not give up for Ash's sake almost reaches a Rage Breaking Point, but Iris is able to calm her down and remind her to have fun battling.
- Oh, Crap!: Dracovish defeating Dragonite with 2 moves. While Iris's Dragonite is known to withstand multiple hits even from ice and already taking some damage from the previous battle, Dracovish reflects its extreme power from the games with the Strong Jaw ability powering up an already powerful Fishious Rend and the 4x weakness in Ice Fang.
- Took a Level in Badass:
- Iris has become Unova League Champion since the last time she saw Ash and has gained full control over her dragon reading abilities, truly making her a Dragon Master.
- Iris' Axew has evolved all the way to Haxorus and gained some control over its Outrage's confusion side effect.
- Ash's Dragonite learns Draco Meteor at the climax of the battle.
- This episode marks the first time Ash has ever defeated any of the games' champions in an official match.
- Wham Shot: Iris revealing her Haxorus, evolved from her Axew she had back in the Unova Series.
- The Worf Effect: Iris's Dragonite, yet again. Though he's able to put up a decent fight against Ash's Dragonite, once Dracovish steps onto the field, the Dragon Pokémon doesn't stand a chance.
- You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: Iris's Dragonite has this kind of reaction seeing Dracovish for the first time... and biting Ash's head.
